HELLERTOWN — Northwestern wrestling coach Jim Moll understood the uphill climb as his team entered Saucon Valley’s home gym Monday night.

After a fast start for unbeaten Saucon Valley, that challenge seemed even more daunting for the visiting Tigers.

The Colonial League favorite Panthers won the first four bouts and cruised to a 47-22 victory at Saucon Valley High School. The Panthers (6-0 in Colonial League) handed Northwestern its first league loss of the season and remain the lone unbeaten Colonial League squad.

“I knew we’d have a lot of tough matches,” Moll said. “Saucon is a good team. They are tough. They are physical. They get a little bit of momentum and their whole team feeds into it and the crowd feeds into it. They kind of started off better than we did.”

Saucon Valley’s Josh Jones opened the match with a major decision victory against Jackson Bernhard at 126 pounds. Then, in a match that figured to go down to the wire, the Panthers’ Nick Rosengrant earned a 2-0 decision against Northwestern’s Matt Peters.

The hosts increased their lead to 16-0 after Justin Kyra picked up a major decision at 138 pounds, followed by a tech fall (16-1) for Jason Jones at 145.

“That was a big win for Rosengrant,” Moll said. “We knew that one could go either way. Matt was right there with him. In the first period, he really could have had a takedown … That could change the outcome right there.”

Instead, Rosengrant’s 2-0 decision not only fueled the crowd at Saucon Valley, but seemed to give the Panthers an edge for the rest of the match.

The Tigers (6-1 in Colonial League) got on the board with a pin from Jackson Bernhard at 152. After a slow start that saw a scoreless first period unfold, Bernhard was able to pin Saucon Valley’s Angelo Mahaffey late in the third period.

Caleb Clymer earned a major decision at 160 pounds moments later to bring the Tigers within 16-10. But the Panthers would win six of the final eight bouts.

“[Bernhard] started slow, which was kind of his thing last year,” Moll said. “He was a slow starter, but would wrestle harder later in the match. That’s exactly what he did today.

“Caleb wanted a fall. That kid did his job. His job was to not get pinned and the kid did a good job. He controlled some situations and controlled hands. Caleb wrestled hard. That was the best Caleb looked on his feet in probably about a month.”

The falls then started to roll into focus after a quick Northwestern threat. Saucon Valley’s Dane Csencits took down Isaac Bredbenner at 182 pounds, and the Panthers’ Jarret Kirschbeck pinned Peter Yablonski in 40 seconds at 195.

The Tigers’ only other victory in a contested bout came at 106 for Jake Dellicker, who pinned Ermal Duka in the opening 30 seconds.

“Peters could’ve won and Clymer could’ve pinned,” Moll said. “Brunner was right there with that kid. A takedown in the third period made it a close match. If he gets to the leg sooner in the match, he’s got a shot. I think Ben Griffith has a chance to get a win; I don’t think he gets pinned every time by that kid. There are some areas where we can definitely do better and cut the deficit.”

LOOKING AHEAD ... Northwestern’s final league meet is set for Catasauqua on Wednesday. After that, the Tigers will travel to Panther Valley on Friday and Saturday for a tournament.

POSTSEASON WRESTLING ... Saturday morning’s big win over Bangor (38-30) set up the Tigers well for the Colonial League duals. Northwestern, which leads the West Division at 6-1, will likely secure the No. 2 seed for the four-team tournament set for Monday.

Saucon Valley 47, N’western 22

126 – Josh Jones (SV) major dec. Harrison Bernhard, 13-3.

132 – Nick Rosengrant (SV) dec. Matt Peters, 2-0.

138 – Justin Kyra (SV) major dec. Colin Rex, 13-4.

145 – Jason Jones (SV) tech. fall Wil Delicker in 2:10, 16-1.

152 – Jackson Bernhardt (NW) pinned Angelo Mahaffey in 5:10.

160 – Caleb Clymer (NW) major dec. Thomas Spirk, 12-3.

170 – Braydyn Luguardo (SV) major dec. Tyler Watson, 11-2.

182 – Dane Csencits (SV) pinned Isaac Bredbenner in 2:23.

195 – Jarret Kirschbeck (SV) pinned Peter Yablonski in :40.

220 – Quin Moyer (NW) won by forfeit.

285 – Nick Warenke (SV) pinned Hayden Bobbyn in 4:21.

106 – Jake Dellicker (NW) pinned Ermal Duka in :26.

113 – Dane Druckenmiller (SV) dec. Blake Brunner, 10-6.

120 – Kevin Dyer (SV) pinned Ben Griffith in 3:23.